Helen will be missed by many of us....she was a very special person...always found the best in people and would make it a point to compliment someone and had a genuine way of making people always feel better...her family was her greatest joy and I want to send my condolences to them...I am sure she is smiling down on each of them ...she taught me a lot about old movies and while I wasn't a fan of them before meeting Helen, I soon became one...she and I would talk for hours about the old movie stars...she was also very knowledgable in present day affairs with a love of politics which I shared with her and we had many good debates on that subject.

Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time.

I’m so very sorry for your loss.

Helen Craigan was a very special friend and I miss her deeply. I know I am not alone in this; Helen had many friends, one couldn’t help but love her. We met at Mount Royal College. From time to time I would cover switchboard for her work breaks. We began leaving less-than-artistic drawings of College life and of each other’s foibles on her desk during these times, and a friendship was born!

Helen was a completely devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She loved her daughter Carolyn and husband Stace, and grandchildren Hannah and Quinn fiercely and with great pride. Nothing Helen did was by half measures, and nothing was too much for a friend. To visit me in hospital one year, she boarded a bus and walked several blocks from the bus stop to the hospital toting two heavy bags of books for me. When my husband got a work transfer to another city, Helen e-mailed almost daily for months until I was at home in my new locale. Until she was physically unable to go out for cards, Helen never forgot a birthday or other special occasion and her sticker-festooned greeting card envelopes were works of art and so day-brightening! Packages of Burnt Almond chocolate bars (a favorite of mine) appeared in the mail on my birthday for a number of years. She was a loving and faithful friend, always asking after my family with a sincere interest.

Helen’s interest in everyone she met was genuine. She was thoughtful, eternally optimistic and always wanting to know all about “you”. Though she suffered severely with arthritis, how she was feeling was minimized or dismissed in conversation.

Helen took great care with her dress and personal care, unfailingly wearing one of many colorful strings of beads to coordinate with what she was wearing, her make-up carefully applied and hair in a pretty halo around her head. She was intelligent, avidly reading biographies (but no fiction, thank you)! She had a wonderful pixie sense of humour with an easily tickled funny bone. She loved elephants! And she loved Swiss Chalet chicken dinners with myself and Sue, another MRC friend, whenever I was in Calgary to visit.

These are only a few of my memories.

“A friendship isn’t a big thing – it’s a million little things” (Author Unknown).

My heartfelt condolences to Carolyn and all the family.

Sylvia Taylor

Carolyn, Stace, Hannah & Quinn,

Please accept my condolences on your loss. I was very sorry too hear of the recent passing of your Mom. May the many happy memories of the past, bring you comfort during this difficult time.

Valerie Dippel

Calgary, Alberta

I remember my time working with Helen fondly at was then Mount Royal College. We spent many happy moments together. One day I rescued a very sad looking African Violet from the top of a filing cabinet and took it home. A few days later, Helen came questioning what had happened to her plant. I fessed up and offered to bring it back to her but she declined and said I could have it. To this day, that plant thrives and is rarely without a bloom. I have always thought of Helen when I care for that plant. This has to be about 30 years ago now and like I said to this day, it rarely is not in full bloom. I have always felt that Helen was watching over it and in her beautiful way, telling it to keep growing. Beautiful fond memories of Helen. I will remember her always. Love to you, her family.

Dear Carolyn and family.

I've just read the news of your Mom's passing and wanted to extend my love and condolences. I shall always remember her as a kind, gentle, compassionate and lovely lady. I am so grateful that I came to know both your parents over the many years I was a Central United Church. May God assure you of his loving presence and grant you his peace.

Blessings,

Michael Ward